The FOIA Centre is a specialist, London-based,
research company and consultancy. We offer a wide range of research services.
In particular, we can help you use the freedom of information act (FOIA),
the data protection act, environmental information regulations, and other
“open-access” laws in the UK – and throughout the world.

Working on behalf of businesses, newspapers
and other media, law firms, campaign groups, charities and individuals, the
FOIA Centre makes requests under “freedom of information” and
other open-access laws to government departments and other public bodies and
organisations.

The FOIA Centre was established in 2001, making
it Britain’s first company offering to obtain, on behalf of clients,
information using open-access provisions. And, because the FOIA Centre uses
“freedom of information” and other open-access laws to research
subjects and obtain material, it does not employ the illegal information-gathering
methods of private detectives or “enquiry agents”.

The FOIA Centre only works for clients seeking
information: we do not provide any service (such as consultancy or training)
to any organisation related to responding to requests under “freedom
of information” or other open-access laws. We believe that working for
both sides would inevitably lead to conflicts of interest. So, if you want
to unlock information, then the FOIA Centre is on your side.

FOIA is an acronym (pronounced similarly to
foyer); the term is widely used in America instead of saying in full either,
“freedom of information”, or, “freedom of information act”,
and it is gradually becoming a recognised word in the UK. Britons will become
as familiar with “FOIA” as Americans are when use of the freedom
of information act becomes as widespread in the UK as in the US, and when
they see “freedom of information” as a right comparable to “freedom
of expression”.

If you have any queries about exercising your
“right to know” that are not covered by this website, the best
way to ask is to e-mail us,
otherwise please see our contact details. And
take a look at our news section for articles about,
or derived from, “freedom of information”.

For an overview of your “right to know”,
“freedom of information” and other open-access laws, click here.